Cooler-than-normal August relieves strain on Texas electricity market
Note: Electricity price is ERCOT's North Zone day-ahead, on-peak wholesale electricity price
August is typically the peak demand month for electricity in Texas, and sustained high temperatures can lead to stress on the electric grid. Although August saw temperatures rise above 105 degrees, the prolonged heat that can stress the grid beyond its capabilities did not materialize.
During the summer when temperatures are high, demand for electricity to cool homes and businesses increases. Although electric systems are designed to meet peak demand, consecutive high-demand days can strain power plants and transmission facilities and lead to unplanned outages. Very high wholesale electricity prices are often indications of this type of system stress.
The graphic above illustrates the relationship between daily high temperatures, daily peak system demand, and wholesale power prices for the past three Augusts for most of Texas. The size of each bubble represents the wholesale electricity price in the North Zone (Dallas-Fort Worth area) of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' (ERCOT) electric system for peak weekday hours.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on SNL Energy and Energy Velocity.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration based on Bloomberg, LP.
Note: Shaded areas are the dates from July to September, which correspond to the data on the graphs in the first tab.
In August 2011, a period of sustained extreme heat drove day-ahead electricity prices over $600 per megawatthour (MWh). During August 2012 there were a few days of sustained high system demand, leading to single-day spikes of about $250/MWh in the day-ahead market. August 2013 has seen single days of high temperatures and high system demand, but not a sustained period of extreme heat as in 2011 and 2012. Consequently the price in 2013 peaked at only $90/MWh.
Tags: consumption/demand, electricity, generation, prices, states, Texas, weather